HGS in a Rental Car: How Do Tolls Work and Who Pays?
The vast majority of rental cars have an HGS tag fitted; when you cross a bridge or drive on a motorway, the toll is deducted from the car's HGS account and the company charges you for it at the end of the rental or afterwards. Some companies also add a service fee to the toll. You do not need to fit your own HGS tag. Before you book, read the HGS and toll terms of the company you choose; if the car has no HGS at pickup, pay the tolls yourself within 15 days so that no penalty arises.
Tolls: General Directorate of Highways (KGM) tariff, 1 July 2026, car (Class 1), VAT included · Law: Law No. 6001, Article 30 · Updated: 13 October 2026
What is HGS, and does OGS still exist?
HGS (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi), Türkiye's electronic toll system, is used to pay for bridge and motorway crossings. The tag stuck on the car is read at the toll point and the toll is deducted from the account linked to the tag. OGS was discontinued on 31 March 2022; today HGS is the only system. At some stations the toll booths have been removed and replaced with the Free Flow System (Serbest Geçiş Sistemi): cars pass without stopping and the toll is still taken from the HGS account. You cannot pay at a booth in the Eurasia Tunnel (Avrasya Tüneli) either; payment is made through HGS or the tunnel's own channels.
How does HGS work in a rental car?
- The car has an HGS tag. Most companies fit HGS to the cars in their fleet; you can see the tag on the windscreen when you pick up the car.
- You drive through, and the toll is deducted from the car's account. You do not need to do anything else at the toll point.
- The company passes the tolls on to you. They are charged at the end of the rental or once the toll records reach the company. Because records can be delayed, the charge may come days after you return the car.
- There may be a service fee. Some companies add a service fee to the toll, either as a percentage (e.g. 15%) or as a fixed amount per rental. This fee is listed in the company's terms.
2026 bridge and motorway tolls (cars)
| Crossing | Toll |
|---|---|
| 15 Temmuz Şehitler Bridge | 59 TL |
| Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge | 59 TL |
| Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge (bridge only) | 110 TL |
| Kuzey Marmara Motorway, Anatolian section, full route | 600 TL |
| Kuzey Marmara Motorway, European section, full route | 260 TL |
| Osmangazi Bridge (bridge only) | 1.170 TL |
| 1915 Çanakkale Bridge | 1.170 TL |
| Istanbul–Izmir Motorway, Bursa Batı → Izmir | 1.355 TL |
KGM bridge and motorway toll tariff, valid from 1 July 2026, car (Class 1), VAT included. On the 15 Temmuz and FSM bridges, tolls have been charged in both directions since 1 January 2022. Tariffs are updated once or twice a year.
Example route: driving from Istanbul to Izmir on the motorway, the Osmangazi Bridge and the Gebze–Bursa and Bursa–Izmir sections add up to about 2.900 TL in tolls (calculated from the KGM tariff). If you are making a round trip, this amount doubles, which is why a one-way rental sometimes makes more sense.
Unpaid tolls: deadlines and penalties
If you drive through with a car that has no HGS or not enough balance, an unpaid toll (ihlalli geçiş) is recorded. Under Law No. 6001, Article 30:
| When you pay (after the crossing) | What do you pay? |
|---|---|
| First 15 days | The toll only, no penalty |
| Between day 15 and day 45 | The toll + a penalty of 1 times the toll |
| After day 45 | The toll + a penalty of 4 times the toll |
You can look up and pay unpaid tolls by number plate on KGM's toll violation lookup page or on e-Devlet, Türkiye's e-Government Gateway. If an unpaid toll occurs in a rental car, the penalty goes to the owner of the car, that is, the company; the company then passes it on to the renter, and some companies add a service fee on top. So always ask at pickup whether the car has HGS.
What changes from 1 January 2027?
5 tips for HGS in a rental car
- See the tag at pickup. Check whether there is an HGS tag on the windscreen, and ask if there is not.
- Read the terms before you book. How tolls are charged and any service fee are listed in the offer's terms.
- Work out the tolls on your route. The Osmangazi and Çanakkale bridges cost 1.170 TL per crossing; add this to your budget.
- If you drove through in a car without HGS, pay within 15 days. No penalty arises; keep the receipt and let the company know.
- Check for charges that arrive later. Toll records can be delayed; for a few weeks after you return the car, keep an eye on your statement or the company's notifications.
Frequently asked questions
How does HGS work in rental cars?
Most companies fit an HGS tag to their cars. Bridge and motorway tolls are deducted from the car's HGS account, and the company charges the renter for them at the end of the rental or afterwards. Some companies also add a service fee.
Who pays for HGS tolls in a rental car?
The renter pays the tolls. The company passes the amount on to you; whether a service fee is charged is listed in the company's rental conditions.
Can I fit my own HGS tag to a rental car?
Usually there is no need, because the car already has the company's HGS tag. If the car has no tag, ask the company at pickup what you should do.
I drove through without HGS. What should I do?
If you pay the toll within 15 days of the crossing on KGM's toll violation lookup page or on e-Devlet, no penalty arises. Between day 15 and day 45 a penalty of 1 times the toll is added, and after day 45 a penalty of 4 times the toll.
How much is the Osmangazi Bridge toll?
Under the 1 July 2026 tariff, 1.170 TL for a car. The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge costs the same.
Will HGS be free in rental cars from 2027?
Under the regulation coming into force on 1 January 2027, if the renter asks for it, the company must provide HGS free of charge. The renter still pays the tolls themselves.
